COUNTERPOINT: AFR plan puts public safety at risk

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s Administration recently began implementing the largest operational change in Albuquerque Fire Rescue history — removing one paramedic from two-paramedic transport capable rescue vehicles and redistributing the same number of paramedics across different trucks with different functions. The administration claims this will increase service delivery and provide a “guaranteed paramedic response,” but in reality, it is an illusion of progress. Instead of hiring and training additional firefighters to meet the city’s growing emergency response needs, the mayor opted for a reshuffling strategy that does nothing to address the fundamental issue. Moving personnel around does not solve the increasing demand on our emergency response system — only increasing the number of trained professionals and emergency vehicles can do that.

The mayor’s so-called solution weakens the exceptional emergency medical services system we currently have. It not only diminishes the quality of care currently provided but also masks the real problem: the need for more paramedics, firefighters, vehicles and stations. The administration’s actions undermine a system that has been refined over decades and proven to save lives. When describing the mayor’s plan, AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo admitted to the Journal that two-medics on a rescue is “ideal.”

The Albuquerque City Council has consistently supported initiatives to ensure public safety remains a top priority. The council recently corrected Keller’s misstep with R-25-122, a resolution guaranteeing that AFR will maintain its two-paramedic response system for emergency medical calls on transport capable trucks. This measure passed with a supermajority of councilors in favor.

The council has repeatedly confirmed its willingness to allocate the necessary funding to hire and train additional firefighters and paramedics. In city government, the council holds the purse strings and we’ve given the mayor the entire purse. For nearly eight years, the council has provided Keller with massive funding to address public safety, homelessness and economic development. Keller has been given a blank check and has nothing to show for it. While other surrounding cities with similar populations have thrived under competent leadership, Albuquerque has seen little return on hundreds of millions of dollars invested.

Despite this administration’s failures in every other area, our fire department has remained a bright spot — a top-tier agency with nationally recognized response times. Unfortunately, the mayor’s new plan jeopardized this success, risking not only the reputation of AFR but, more importantly, the safety of our residents and visitors.

Currently, Albuquerque residents benefit from a two-paramedic response system for emergency medical calls. Each AFR rescue unit is staffed with two highly trained paramedics — the highest level of pre-hospital medical licensure — ensuring that lifesaving aid is delivered as swiftly and effectively as possible. This paired-paramedic model is a gold standard across the nation, utilized by leading fire departments around the country. The presence of two paramedics per unit allows for immediate, advanced medical interventions, which can mean the difference between life and death in critical emergencies.

The mayor’s effort to dismantle this system is not a new idea. Similar proposals have been floated in the past and have consistently been met with strong opposition from both firefighters and city council members. The reason is simple: reducing the number of paramedics per rescue unit diminishes the quality of care and places additional strain on an already overburdened system.

Decisions about emergency medical response should be guided by data and the expertise of those who work in the field every day. Firefighters and paramedics put their lives on the line to serve our city’s residents, and they understand better than anyone what it takes to provide effective, lifesaving care. The overwhelming consensus among these professionals is that our current two-paramedic rescue model is the best approach.

Instead of implementing a plan that diminishes service quality, the mayor should focus on increasing the number of trained professionals, investing in new vehicles, and expanding station coverage.